Capitol Baptist M a rc h 2 0 , 2 0 1 5 • Saturday, March 21
“Lovely in Silhouette” Ladies Seminar; 8:30am to 1:30pm; $15 per person
• Sunday, March 22
Business meeting for all church members after the evening service
• Saturday, March 28
Easton Literature Distribution; meet at the church at 8am; Faithful Rubies Meeting at 10am in the fellowship hall
• Sunday, March 29
Workers’ meeting at 5:35pm; Birthday/ Anniversary fellowship after the evening service
Sunday Early Service Sunday School Morning Service Choir Practice Prayer Meeting Evening Service
8:30am 9:45am 11:00am 4:30pm 5:30pm 6:00pm
Wednesday Teen Meeting Children’s Service Bible Study & Prayer
6:15pm 7:00pm 7:00pm
Soul-Winning & Visitation Wednesday 3:30pm Saturday 10:00am
How to Avoid Deceiving Ourselves Jam e s 1 : 1 9 - 2 7 | Pa s t or T. H . Mo o re
J
ames 1:19-27 deals with the subject of deception. To “deceive” means, “to mislead the mind”, or “to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true”. We read in verse 22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Then in verse 26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” The deception that James is dealing with here in our text is the worst kind of deception—selfdeception. Self-deception comes from within. It is when we believe our own lies, blind ourselves to our own condition, and pretend to be something that we are not. It is when we live in a false reality. Self-deception is rooted in pride. Now the book of James was written to believers (1:1-2a). So this warning that he is giving is to the Christian. Christians can and often do practice self-deception. So how can we avoid deceiving ourselves? Our text gives the answer. Last week, we saw that we must first: I. Receive the Word of God (vs. 19-21) A. Close our Mouths and Open our Ears (vs. 19a) B. Don’t Get Mad at Rebuke (vs. 19b) This week, we are going to see the second way to avoid deceiving ourselves: II. Rehearse the Word of God (vs. 22-25) We read in these verses “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” The second way to avoid deceiving ourselves is to both hear what we are supposed to do, and do it! It is not enough to merely hear the Word of God.
The Bible is not merely a book of information...it demands a response. The Lord Jesus Christ warned us of this in Matthew 7:24-27. The Lord spoke in this passage of two men– the wise man and the fool. Both of them heard the Word of God. But it was only the one who practiced the Word of God that was considered wise. The one that heard and did not practice it was called a fool. Many people have the mistaken idea that hearing a good sermon or Bible lesson is what makes them grow as Christians and receive God’s blessings. But it is not the hearing, but the doing that brings the blessings. So many Christians are looking for another conference that will give them “the key” to a blessed life or for that one sermon that is going to change them. They can even take notes on sermons and frequent the altar. But they
mistakenly have the idea that because they hear the right things and know what they are supposed to do, that they are somehow good Christians. If that is what we think, then we are deceiving ourselves. The key is obedience! James describes deceivers in verses 23-24. Picture a man getting up in the morning, looking in the mirror and seeing his hair sticking up, he is unshaven, and the sandman has visited him. But instead of taking care of his problems, he goes into the kitchen to see what he can dig up for breakfast. He notices the clock and realizes that he is late for work, so he rushes off to work. When he arrives at work, his boss says to him, “Do you have a mirror in your house?” The man says, “Yes”. The boss replies, “The next time you see yourself like that, do something about it!”. The problem with the self-deceiver is that he knows what needs to be done, but doesn’t do anything about it. He may even make excuse after excuse as to why he hasn’t taken care of things. Verse 25 describes the Christian that is blessed of God, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” He looks into the Word of God and sees what is wrong. He doesn’t forget about it, but instead does something about it. This is the Christian that is blessed of God. The Bible is not merely a book of information. It demands a response. It is not enough to just hear, we must do! May God help us to be doers!
CAPITOL BAPTIST CHURCH w 401 KESSELRING AVENUE w DOVER, DE 19904 w CBCOFDOVER.COM w 96.1 FM
Join us in prayer for... • Easton Baptist Church: Reid family; financial support; literature distribution; Get-Acquainted Meetings (March 29th - April 2nd) • Building Renovation: God’s guidance and wisdom • Pam Cordrey: cancer and mother’s cancer • Scot & Katie Daku: safety while on furlough; increased support
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unshine
Rob Snover 1638 Peach Basket Rd. Felton, DE 19943
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Rob is dealing with an infection. Take the time this week to pray for him and send him a note of encouragement.
• Debbie Edwards: recovery from surgery
Easton
• Ian Gonzalez’ Cousin, Iris: heart transplant needed • Heishman’s Granddaughter, Ellie: heart complications
BAPTIST CHURCH Week of 3/15
• Mike Jager: eye surgery in April
Sunday AM - 17
• Madlangbayans: safe travels • Heather Reece: radiation treatments • Rick Schroeter: in Rm. #236 Genesis Rehab in Milford recovering from stroke • Rob Snover: infection
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From the Mission Field M A R K & L I N D A S I G S TA D - W E S T A F R I C A
November/December 2014 We are grateful for the prayers for SAFETY on the roads. The
Dear Friends: Thank You For Praying: Linda and I asked for special prayer in our last letter concerning the sale of my Mom’s house in Minnesota. At a missions conference in Delaware we prayed once again that the house would sell. On Wednesday we were traveling to another conference when our realtor phoned us to let us know a man walked into his office and made an offer with CASH for the house. Although the offer was $5,000 less than what we had asked, I told the realtor to accept the offer. Papers were already drawn up, but the buyer wanted to close within 10 days. We were in Connecticut and had another conference to do in Ohio and then on to Kansas. I told our realtor that Linda and I would drive the 1300 miles to come and sign papers, then drive back to Ohio for the next meeting. Three weeks of prayer and the HOUSE SOLD! Thank You For Praying: We drove more than 5000 miles in three weeks in October.
Lord kept us alert and we were able to get to all our scheduled meetings without incident. Thank You For Praying: Linda has had her last appointment with her neurologists. Other than some drugs that would temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms she has, there is nothing the doctors can do to stem the progress of Parkinson’s so we are content to trust in the GRACE of GOD (II Corinthians 12:9). Linda has had some difficulties in her walking, but once again, as we say in Nigeria: “We are managing.” We trust you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving time and a Christmas that is Christ Centered. Our goal is still to return to West Africa early next year. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING! Sincerely, Mark & Linda Sigstad Email Address:
[email protected] Field Address: P.O. Box 16881, Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
